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October 2015

October 30, 2015

AU is just around the corner now, and it’s time to start making connections. If you’re not already following us on social media, what are you waiting for? It’s a great way to get in touch with other attendees and speakers. Follow all the action once you get to Las Vegas with #AU2015. Plus, you can take part in our snap polls like these folks did.

Surviving AU takes grit. What gets you through a week of intensive career development?

Angela C. Snider says, “Good shoes, a sweater, notepad, and a smile.”

Mark Behrens recommends, “Review the maps feature on the mobile app and learn where your classes are. Then find someone new to talk to each class you attend.”

According to Christopher Townsend, “It is Vegas and everyone at the office thinks I will be partying. Ha! I only saw daylight going to and from the airport. Wear good shoes!”

Peter Dickin adds, “Shower and coffee to wake me up in the morning and beer and shot to send me to sleep at night. The only combination to deal with the 8-hour time difference from UK.”

Thomas MacBriar advises, “A well planned schedule.”

Christy Baxter says, “Chapstick, water, and comfortable shoes.”

For Ray Gorman, the answer is simple: “Beer.”

How many AUs have you attended?

We got a wide range of responses to this question, ranging from 0 (with a sad face) or 1 all the way up to 20 or more. Wow! We heart AU mega-veterans. You guys rule the school.

We heart freshman too, which is why we have a special Orientation session on Monday just for you—be sure to sign up if this is your first AU.

October 28, 2015

Innovation Forums are 1 of the highlights of AU Las Vegas. As we mentioned a couple weeks ago, we’re shaking things up this year with 3 forums that will connect to tell a larger story of disruptive innovation, taking you on a journey from the spark of an idea through to its actualization. Your guide on this adventure will be Roman Mars.

We’ll look at how technology is shaping a new class of consumers, changing the nature of products, and rewriting customer demand across all industries. We’ll dive deep into the ways technology—additive manufacturing, robotic fabrication, advanced materials, from atoms to bits and back again—is disrupting the way we design from micro to macro, and the way we make objects, spaces, and infrastructure. Here’s a taste of what we’ve got in store for you.

Session I: WIIFM – What’s in It for Me?

In the first forum, we’ll explore “The Market of One: Where Complexity and Uniqueness No Longer Have a Premium Cost,” with Dennon Oosterman of ReDeTec and, “The 100 Story Sensor: How Buildings Will Become Generators of Data to Form the Connected Systems of Insight,” with speaker Michael Thydell of Sweco Architects. We’ll also look at the future of infrastructure and how to adapt cities to people, not vice versa.

Session II: It’s a New Innovation Game, Baby!

In the second forum, we’ll explore how innovation is allowing small companies to challenge incumbents in ways that were not possible before, with a case study from speaker Neill Briggs of Briggs Automotive Company. We’ll take a deeper look at where customization is taking us with 2 students from Philadelphia University who’ll show us their “Algorithmic 3D-Printed Shoes of the Future.” And we’ll examine disruptive uses of technology in IoT, augmented reality, crowdsourcing, and more.

Bringing it all together, the third and final forum will look at the future of making things through the lens of case studies in materials informatics, modular production, advanced manufacturing, robotics, additive manufacturing, and robotic 3D printing for infrastructure. Speakers include Danielle Trofe of Trofe Studio, Bob Simmons of ConXtech, Joel Neidig of ITAMCO, and some special guest speakers we can’t reveal just yet.

Don't miss your chance to gain insight from industry leaders who’ve explored the future of making things, disrupted norms, and embraced the Era of Connection to create new business opportunities. Take advantage of this insight. Strike your own innovation path. Get inspired by where we’re going and how we’re getting there.

P.S. Be sure to keep an eye on our Twitter feed next month. We can’t say exactly who, what, why, or when, but a certain well-known someone might be taking over to answer your questions in the lead up to AU Las Vegas. (Hint: He has a “thing” about city flags.)

October 21, 2015

Maybe this is your first time attending AU Las Vegas, or maybe you’ve been there and done that many times over. (If it’s your first time, check out last week’s post and be sure to sign up for Freshman Orientation—Lynn Allen and other AU old hands will give you inside info on what not to miss, and you’ll get to connect with fellow freshman even before classes start.)
Either way, to ensure you get the most out of your week with us, we asked AU veterans to tell us 1 thing about AU that only alumni know. Here’s the scoop.

Matt Wunch advises, “If you get a chance, scope out the area early. Get familiar with the layout and where your classes are. It’s a BIG place!”

@autodesku If you stay up late, then fall asleep in class, we take your picture and send it to your boss.

Jim Swain suggests, “Whenever possible, attend a particularly critical class with a friend or colleague. This will help you catch everything that’s said and understand how it could affect your specific application. Then quickly figure out your questions and follow up with the speaker… As a speaker, I ask: Please give us a chance to pack up our gear and let the next speaker set up. Arrange to meet afterwards in 1 of the discussion lounges.”

Donnia Tabor-Hanson says, “Stop by the AUGI booth! Also, take all you will need for the day because you really can’t just “run back to my room for…‘whatever’.”

@autodesku Take A LOT of notes. Don't assume you'll remember any of it. Write it down.

Christy Baxter offers this list:
1) Wear comfortable shoes. My first AU all I had was heels. After the first day, I bought some comfortable sneakers.
2) There are always shorter restroom lines for us gals than the guys.
3) All you need is a good tablet or smart phone; don’t lug a laptop around all day.
4) Carry recharging blocks for your devices.
5) Look for a person with a mentor badge and stay with them.
6) Most importantly, HAVE FUN and NETWORK!!!

Check out Melanie Stone Perry’s AU Survival Guide for more great insight, garnered from her many years of attending and speaking at AU. Her #1 tip?
“The importance of comfy shoes and proper hydration cannot be overstated!”

@autodesku Walking, walking, walking, and more walking. Wear your Fitbit and be amazed.

October 14, 2015

Attending AU Las Vegas for the first time can be daunting. What should you bring? How do you know where to go? How do you meet people? What if you find out a class you signed up for isn’t for you? To answer these and other questions, we asked AU veterans to give us their best advice for AU freshmen. Here’s what they have to say.
Let’s start with the basics. AU veteran Caroline Paula Johnston says, “Don’t miss the train, buy your ticket now!” (She’s right—plus, if you purchase your pass before October 18, you’ll save $300.)

At Freshman Orientation, Lynn will give you an overview of AU as well as more info about events and gatherings you won't want to miss. It’s also a great chance to kick-start your networking by meeting fellow first-timers, and familiarize yourself with the event layout so you’ll know where you’re going when classes start on Tuesday.

Pack light. You’ll come back with way more than you took, so leave plenty of space in your luggage.

Dress casually. Wear layers and comfortable shoes.

If you have an iPhone, take your charger with you each day.

Eat all the free food you can.

If you go out at night, it will be cold.

Save your partying for Thursday night.

Next, a few tips to help you get the most out of your classes:

Lars Rasmussen says, “Go to the ‘what’s new in the next version’ classes. Those are always the first to go in my calendar.”

Vivian Gordon recommends, “Sign up for classes that are outside your main field of study. There is so much out there and AU is a huge chance to grow your mind.”

Similarly, Mark Behrens says, “Change it up and take 1 class on something that you have an interest in, but do not work with. You’ll find that just 1 class in a new subject can really spark your interest in something new.”

Kenton Grant adds, “Keep a ‘second choice’ list of classes. Sometimes classes aren’t what you expected, and that’s okay. Don’t feel obligated to stay. Check out another class or perhaps use that time to see the lounges.”

Christopher Roberts suggests, “Go talk to presenters if you have specific questions, or if there’s more of the process you’d like to know. We’re all busy when we get back to work—this may be the best time to learn. And don't spend all of your time writing notes—download the handouts beforehand and just watch/listen.”

When class is out, it’s time to get your networking on. The biggest message we got from our social media responses was, “Don’t be shy!”

R. K. McSwain: “Nobody is going to bite you. Go to lunch, pick out a random table, and meet some new people from all over the world. Hang out in the lounges, Exhibit Hall, etc. and network. Like Michael Jordan once said, ‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.’”

Aaks Luthra: “Meet at least 3 new people every day.”

Kimberly Fuhrman: “Don’t pack your schedule too tightly. Give yourself some time in between classes. There’s so much to take in!”

Christopher Benner: “Remember that we are all tech geeks essentially. You’re in very good company with close to 10,000 people who share at least some of your interests… You never know who you’ll meet. Bring a LOT of business cards and hand them out liberally; this encourages them to reciprocate.”

Lastly, from Jon Wilde: “How about finding out if your regular support engineers are there and putting a face to a name? See if they are manning the Answer Bar at any point and strike up a conversation.”

So, to recap: Wear comfortable shoes, carry lip balm, and be bold. These guidelines will help you to learn, connect, and explore, in comfort.

Check back next week for more AU survival advice from veteran attendees.

This instructional demo will look at a groundbreaking Autodesk technology. Design Graph uses sophisticated machine learning techniques to analyze 3D design information and discover patterns in data, enabling us to quickly find the best possible solution. This opens up an entirely new realm of possibility that will expand human potential beyond anything we’ve previously imagined.

Autodesk CTO Jeff Kowalski introduced the concept behind Design Graph at the AU 2014 Opening General Session when he posed the question: How can we design the way nature does?

“Nature,” Jeff says, “fundamentally designs by taking the best existing solution to a problem, and iterating… So what if, like nature, we could access every design, schematic, asset, and idea that has ever been created to help us solve our particular design challenge?”

That’s exactly what Design Graph allows us to do. Harnessing the power of cloud computing and complex algorithms, Design Graph categorizes, correlates, and links relationships between 3D models and their components. Design Graph can identify and understand what components are, what they relate to, and what they do. You can use this intelligent taxonomy to explore design information, manage design data, and solve problems—including finding the best starting point for your next design project, whether it’s in the manufacturing space, architecture and construction, or even media & entertainment where game designers routinely need smarter, more efficient approaches to designing interactive worlds. Generative Design is a new platform that uses the power of machine learning and cloud computing, harnessed by Design Graph, to imitate natural design—yep, we’re talking evolution—exploring all possible modifications to find the best.

To quote Jeff again, “We can now discover and expose the content and the context of all the current designs, for all of your next designs…. Using everything that already is as a starting point for everything that will be—that’s the foundation of how nature works and it’s our model for these new technologies.”

We’re standing on the threshold of a shift that will change everything—not just the way we design, but the way we live. Whatever your industry, and whatever you design, you don’t want to miss this. Register today and save your spot.

October 01, 2015

That’s right, folks. We are so excited to announce that Roman Mars, creator and host of our favorite design and architecture podcast 99% Invisible and co-founder of Radiotopia, will be emceeing all 3 of this year’s Innovation Forums. Roman’s iTunes Top 20 podcast averages 3 million monthly downloads. He was among Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in 2013. And he’s the highest funded journalist in Kickstarter history. We think it's safe to say he’s kind of a design rock star.

Here’s a little quote from Roman’s 2015 TED Talk to show you why we love him so:

“My mission is to get people to engage with the design that they care about, so they begin to pay attention to all forms of design. When you decode the world with design intent in mind, the world becomes kind of magical. Instead of seeing the broken things, you see all the little bits of genius that anonymous designers have sweated over to make our lives better. And that’s essentially the definition of design: making life better and providing joy.”

(Go ahead Roman, drop the mic.)

This year at AU we’re shaking things up a little to boost appeal across all industries with 3 forums that connect to tell a larger story of disruptive innovation. As a great storyteller, Roman is the perfect guide to take us on this journey—from the spark of an idea through to its actualization. We’ll look at how technology is shaping a new class of consumers, changing the nature of products, and rewriting customer demand across all industries. We’ll dive deep into the ways technology—additive manufacturing, robotic fabrication, and advanced materials, from atoms to bits and back again—is disrupting the way we design, from micro to macro, and the way we make objects, spaces, and infrastructure.

Don't miss your chance to join this exciting journey and gain insight from Roman and other industry leaders who’ve explored the future of making things, disrupted norms, and embraced the Era of Connection to create new business opportunities. Take advantage of this insight. Strike your own innovation path. Create new value for clients and customers. Get inspired by where we’re going and how we’re getting there. Register now and save your place.